Attachment for stapling machine and staple



Jan. l0, 1956 A. c. FALONE ETAL 2,729,819

ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING MACHINE AND STAPLE Filed Aug. 22, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N V EN TORS. /7/56 EL 0 C, Fa olv:

5 Mmm irren/ver Jan. l0, 1956 A. c. FALoNE HAL 2,729,319

ATTACHMENT TOR STAPLTNG MACHINE AND sTAPLE Filed Aug. 22. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rc1/mea Fac/w1. se

United States Patent O ATTACHMENT FOR STAPLING MACHINE AND STAPLE Angelo C. Falone, Northfield, and Richard Alschuler, Glencoe, Ill.

Application August 22, 1951, Serial No. 243,066

Claims. (Cl. 1 2) Our invention relates to improvements in attachments for stapling machines and the staple produced thereby.

Our invention relates more particularly to an attachment for 'stapling machines by the use of which a staple can be formed which is capable of being pressed through material to be stapled together, leaving a definite space .above or below the material, as desired.

There are a large number of conditions or situations in which it is desirable to use a member such as a staple as an eye to receive a hook or similar connector, and it is sometimes highly desirable to use a hook or connector which may be of considerable thickness so that the staple or eye that is employed must be mounted in position with suiiicient space to permit for the thickness of the hook or fastener that is to be connected to the same.

ne anch instance of importance is in the various phases of the clothing or garment manufacturing busi- .ness wherein it is frequently necessary to use hook members to connect with eyes or staple members to form the hook and eye connection between two different portions of a garment. While wire staples have been used in the past in this connection, 'as for example at the upper end of the fly portion of trousers, heretofore no attempt has been made to provide a definite space between the eye or staple portion and the cloth to permit the introduction of a hook member. Where efforts have been made to overcome this objectionable feature, it has usually con- 'sisted in the provision of preformed eyes or staples vwhich later Ahave 'to be 'sewn into the garment, thus adding vconsidera'bly to the cost 'and the time and labor required `in placing the staple or eye imposition.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an 'attachment for standard stapling machines bythe use 'of which 'a standard `wire 'staple may Abe employed as the 'e'ye or retainer member in garments 'to yreceive a hook, the staple being formed as it is stamped through the cloth, and the 'staple when formed and in place providing a desired clearance betweenthe top of the cloth and Athe top ofthe staple or'eye member to receive a hook yof required thickness.

A v'further object ofthe invention is to 'provide van 'attachment of the type described capable 'of use with an ordinary stapling machine to create arspace Von the face of the cloth of the 'garment of sufficient depth for the introduction `of a hoolt member.

A further 'object of the 'invention is 4to provide an attachment of the type described which `may ninclude one or more spacingbars either above or-be'low the material to be stapled, so that when the operation is completed a space of desired depth will be present in the finished article.

A further object of the invention is to lprovide an attachment for stapling machines capable of functioning .either withdiat or round wire .to .create .a'harp v,bend .for the legs of the staple which have pierced thefcloth .or other material, and are then `bent sharply yparallel with the body of therstaple.

'iid Patented Jan. l0, lf

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of staple for use in connection with garments or other material, the staple when formed creating a space either above or below the material for the reception of another object.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved staple of the type described which is formed of flat metal with sharp piercing edges at the ends of the legsy so that after they have pierced the cloth or other material they are bent sharply and the sharp edges lie parallel to each other so that in the finished product no edges of the staple are exposed.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein referenceV is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a standard stapling machine with our improved attachment associated therewith, parts of the attachment being shown in crosssection.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a strip of flat staple wire showing the diagonal cut at the ends, with dotted lines indicating the edges which are bent in fastening the staple;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the staple which is formed and driven through material to be Istapled;

Fig. 4 is a similar perspective View of the staple that is formed, showing the manner in which the sharp edges of the staple are 4aligned so that the edges are not exposed;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view with some parts in v-section of a portion 0f the ,Starling machine with .Qur proved attachment connected thereto, the guide member and hammer assembly and the spacer bars being shown in changed position in dotted lines; i

Fig. 6 is a plan view taken generally on Athe line Y(5.-f6 of Fig. 5, showing the spacer bars and their connection to the machine, the same being in position on the waist band portion of a trouser in which a staple is about to be placed; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the staple in position on the trouser waist band and showing the manner in which the hook portion of the opposite end of the waist band kmay be connected thereto.

In the embodiment of the invention which we have chosen to illustrate, Fig .l of the drawings shows a fragmentaryportion of a stapling machine which includes y,a guide member 12 'in which .a hammer or staple driving member 14 may be reciprocated, the guide v,member also 'being provided with a port member 16 for the introduction of the continuous strip wire W which cornes from a reel mounted on themachine, as is well known in the art.

'The anvil assembly 18 may include a standard 20 `upon which the same is mounted and which includes `a vertically movable push rod 22 formed at its yupper v.end .with a T-.s'haped lifter member 24 that yraises or lowers piv- .otally mounted clincher blocks 26 ,in a well known manner.

In use `the stapling mechanism above described operates vgenerally to cut off a length of lthe staple Awire W, form the right angle legs of -the staple, and vthe 4hammer or staple driving member 1,4 is adapted to engage with the :bridge or cross-bar ofthe staple and `pusher force its legs down through the material M placed upon the anvil until .the cross-bar rests Vagainst the top side of the ,material. However, as modified herein, the Across-bar lies spaced Vaway from the top side of the material, Yas will be hereinafter explained.

Ourinvention differs from lthe ordinary typeof Lclinching .mechanism such as ,has ybeen described, in that in Fig. 1we havetshown a pair ofspacingbars 3l) and 32, one iabove `and one below vthe material 4into which the staple is to be driven. The bar Stlisimadeof springma- J2 ferial that is thin and may be exed so that when the guide member 12 is in its raised position the bar 30 assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.

In Fig. we have illustrated the manner in which the attachment which we provide may be mounted on an ordinary stapling machine. The spacer or guide bars and 32 may extend rearwardly from the anvil and hammer assembly and be fastened at their ends to a U-shaped bracket 34 which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 36 to the end of a support bracket 38 rigid with the stapling machine. An arm 40 may be fastened to one side of the bracket 34 and extend backwardly therefrom. A coiled spring member 42 is connected between the arm 40 and a stationary part of the stapling machine to normally hold the spacing bars or guides down in the position shown in Fig. 5. However, to receive material to be placed between the spacing bars, we provide a chain 44 connected to the arm 40 and extending downwardly to a hand or foot lever which may be operated to pull the attachment to the open or dotted line position shown in Fig. 5.

Starting with the position of the parts when the device is not in use, the head 12 and staple driver 14 are in the dotted position shown in Fig. 5. At this time the upper spacer 32 with which the guide edge 54 is part thereof is above the guide 32 and the anvil 18 as shown in full lines in Fig. 5. Depression of lever 4t) elevates spacer 32 and guide edge 54 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 5. Spacer 30 however, being of spring steel and formed so as to bias downwardly, does not elevate with member 32 but attains a position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. With the parts 32 and 30 separated as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, one end of the waist band is placed between the members 32 and 30 and as the lever 40 is allowed to return to its original position it lowers the spacer 32. As the spacer 32 is lowered, the waist band and trouser leg are moved so that the seam edge 53 is in line with the edge 52, and the seam 58 of the trousers is in line with the guide edge 54. Subsequent to this placing of the work and upon operation of the head 12 and driver 14, the staple is driven.

Referring to Fig. 6, it can be seen that we have also provided a guide arm 56 formed as part of the spacer 32, the guide S0 having a pair of rectangularly disposed edges 52 and 54. In use, as for example in placing a staple into one end of the waist band of a pair of trousers T, it is desirable to place the staple in a generally exact position. For this purpose one end of the waist band portion is placed upon the anvil 18 with the guide edge 52 against the seam parallel to the top edge 56 of the trouser waist band. The trouser is then moved forward over the anvil until the guide edge 54 bears against the vertical seam 58, and the trouser waist band is thus accurately positioned so that each staple 66 will be positioned in the same location on the waist bands with respect to the location of the seams.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the staple 60 is formed from a blank 62 which is cut in the stapling machine with the diagonal edges 64. It is adapted to be bent at the lines 66 to form the U-shaped member 68 which is then driven downwardly through the material to be stapled together. The staple is driven down by the hammer 14 against the anvil 18, and the spacer bar 30 effects a sharp right-angle bend in the corner 69 with the diagonal edges 64 of the staple aligned in juxtaposition so that no sharp edges are present in any direction.

One example of the value of forming a staple in the manner described is illustrated in Fig. 7, in which we have shown a typical front fly construction of trousers which includes the two ends of the split waist band portions 70 and 72, the end 70 formed of an inner and an outer ply of cloth into which a U-shaped hook member 74 has been secured, the construction being such that the exposed leg 76 of the hook is spaced from the inner surface of the outer waist band portion 70.

A receiving eye or staple is provided in the inner waist band portion 72, the same being fastened through the ply 78 of the cloth and a reinforcing strip 80. In placing the eye or staple 60 in the inner waist band portion as herein described, we have provided the space 82 on the outer surface of the cloth 78, so that the leg 76 of the hook has sufficient room between the crossbar 68 of the staple and the surface of the cloth for easy access. When the staple has been fastened to the end of the waist band as shown, the cloth and reinforcing strip is folded over and the staple sewed against removal by the ordinary seam S4 usually placed in this vicinity.

While we have illustrated and described a specic embodiment of the invention, and in Fig. 7 have shown a concrete example of one application thereof, it will of course be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown nor to the purpose or use which has been illustrated. Rather, we have described an attachment for stapling machines by the use of which any conceivable materials desired may be stapled together with a space provided on either or both sides of the material for the purpose of subsequently con? necting either a hook member or other device. In addition, the use of the spring finger guide 30 below the material and above the anvil serves as a former in creating an absolute right angle bend at this point and effecting a more nearly perfect staple holding construction.

We contemplate that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and we do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what we desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An attachment for a'stapling machine of the type having staple forming means, a staple driving member and an anvil positioned therebelow, the stapling machine being provided with a reel of at wire which is fed below the staple driving member and cut off across the width of the same to form a staple, said attachment including a bracket pivoted on said machine, a spacer bar extending forward therefrom, the forward end of said bar positioned below said staple driving member, the bar being generally the width of the bridge of the staple to be formed and adapted when the staple driving member descends toward the anvil to press the staple through material positioned on the anvil to create a space above the material, the thickness of the space being determined by the thickness of said bar, said bar having an arm with a right angle gauge thereon for locating material on the anvil.

2. An attachment for a stapling machine of the type having staple forming means, a staple driving member and an anvil positioned therebelow, the stapling machine being provided with a reel of flat wire which is fed below the staple driving member and cut off diagonally across the width of the same to form a staple, said attachment including a bracket pivoted on said machine, upper and lower spacer bars extending forward therefrom, the forward ends of said spacer bars extending below said staple driving member, the spacer bars being generally the width of the bridge of the staple to be formed and adapted when the staple driving member descends toward the anvil to press the staple through material positioned on the anvil and create a space above and below the material and to effect sharp right angle bends of the legs of the staple below the material, the thickness of the space created being determined by the thickness of the spacer bars.

3. An attachment for a stapling machine of the type having staple forming means, a staple driving member and an anvil positioned therebelow, the stapling machine being provided with a reel of flat wire which is fed below the staple driving member and cut olf diagonally across the width of the same to form a staple, said attachment including a bracket pivoted on said machine, upper and lower spacer bars extending forward therefrom, the forward ends of said spacer bars extending below said staple driving member, said spacer bars being generally the Width of the bridge of the staple to be formed and adapted when the staple driving member descends toward the anvil to press the staple through material positioned on the anvil to create a space above and below the material and to efect sharp right angle bends of the legs of the staple below the material, the thickness of the space created being determined by the thicknessof the spacer bars, said upper spacer bar having an offset parallel arm with a material aligning gauge thereon.

4. An attachment for a stapling machine of the type having staple forming means, a staple driving member and an anvil positioned therebelow, the staplng machine being provided with a reel of tiat wire which is fed below the staple driving member and cut off diagonally across the width of the same to form a staple, said attachment including a bracket pivoted on said machine, upper and lower spacer bars extending forward therefrom, the forward ends of said spacer bars extending below said staple driving member, said spacer bars being generally the width of the bridge of the staple to be formed and adapted when the staple driving member descends toward the anvil to press the staple through material positioned on the anvil to create a space above the material and below the material and to effect sharp right angle bends of the legs of the staple below the material, the thickness of the space created being determined by the thickness of the spacer bars, said upper bar having an olset parallel arm with a material aligning gauge thereon, said gauge having a right angle corner for lining up the material.

5. An attachment for a stapling machine of the type having staple forming means, a staple ldriving member and an anvil positioned thercbelow, the stapling machine being provided with a reel of tlat wire which is fed below the staple driving member and cut off diagonally across the width of the same to form a staple, said attachment including a bracket pivoted on said machine, upper and lower spacer bars extending forward therefrom, the forward ends of said spacer bars extending below said staple driving member, said spacer bars being generally the width of the bridge of the staple to be formed and adapted when the staple driving member descends toward the anvil to press the staple through material positioned on the anvil to create a space above the material and below the material and to effect sharp right angle bends of the legs of the staple below the material, the thickness of the space created being determined by the thickness of the spacer bars, said upper bar having an offset parallel arm with a material aligning gauge thereon, said gauge having a right angle corner for lining up the material, an arm connected to said bracket, a lever for operating said bracket to swing said spacer bars to open position to receive material, and a connection between said arm and said lever.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 295,424 Piatt Mar. 18, 1886 1,134,303 Weber Apr. 6, 1915 1,733,506 Maynard Oct. 29, 1929 1,958,739 Bliss May 15, 1934 2,420,660 Falter May 20, 1947 

